Granting a concession to hold a commercial activity on the public conservation estate follows clearly defined procedures. DoC prepares a preliminary report on each concession for public notification. DoC then makes a final decision based on the application, the possible environmental impacts, submissions from the public, and consistence with conservation plans and conservation purpose.
Some of the concerns expressed at the race include the effect of 300 runners on trampers and walkers on the Routeburn Track. Who would knowingly go there during such a race? DoC Otago considers that the effects on the trampers would be minor, as they predicted that there would be only fifteen trampers on the Routeburn on the day of the running event. However, this figure was based on entries in the Routeburn Falls hut book in May 1999, despite the fact the hut books on Great Walks often significantly under-estimate track usage.
A second concern regarding the concession process includes the applicant, Jason Caulton, who used harrier and running club newsletters to distribute postage-paid postcards of support for the race. DoC Otago received 149 of these postcards which it recognised as valid submissions indicating of public support for the race. Although a public notice appeared in the Otago Daily Times, tramping clubs or other parties were not directly consulted.
For details on concessions see ‘Commercial concessions on conservation land’ by Simon Johnson and Kelvin Lloyd ‘in Managing New Zealand's Wild Lands, Proceedings of the FMC Wild Lands Conference, Rotoiti Lodge, 14-15 October 2000’, Federated Mountain Clubs, PO Box 1604, Wellington.
Simon Johnson